EP3931141A1

EP3931141A1 - Lift system

Info

Publication number: EP3931141A1
Application number: EP20705717.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Josef Husmann
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 2019-02-28
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2022-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-20
Also published as: CN113272239A; US20220048736A1; WO2020173798A1; EP3931141B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lift system having a lift car (4) which can be moved vertically along a vertical track (3) comprising a stationary vertical guide rail (5), and horizontally by means of a car transfer device (13). The car transfer device (13) has a horizontal displacement unit (16) comprising a vertical guide rail piece (18) which guides the lift car (4) in the horizontal displacement unit (16), wherein the horizontal displacement unit (16) can be brought into a passage position, in which the guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16) forms a portion of the vertical track (3) together with the stationary vertical guide rail (5). According to the invention, the lift system has a connecting device, by means of which, in the passage position of the horizontal displacement unit (16), the vertical guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16) can be connected to the stationary vertical guide rail (5), wherein, when the vertical guide rail piece (18) and the stationary vertical guide rail (5) are connected by means of the connecting device (70), the vertical guide rail piece (18) cannot be displaced in the horizontal direction with respect to the stationary vertical guide rail (5).

Description

Elevator system

The invention relates to an elevator system according to the preamble of claim 1.

EP 2219985 B1 describes an elevator system with a plurality of elevator cars which can be displaced in the vertical direction in two vertical tracks arranged next to one another. Each vertical track has a plurality of self-contained suspension elements, which are guided around a lower deflecting roller and an upper deflecting roller, and in each case a drive machine in the form of an electric motor assigned to the suspension element. Each

The elevator car has a controllable coupling device. The support means have coupling elements which can be designed, for example, as holes or cams. A coupling device of an elevator car can be connected to a

Coupling and uncoupling the coupling element, whereby a drive connection between the respective elevator car and the suspension element can be established and released. An elevator car coupled to a suspension element can thus be displaced along a vertical track by means of the suspension element that can be driven by the respective drive machine, the elevator car being guided by a stationary vertical guide rail during said displacement. These displacements can be referred to as vertical journeys along the vertical track comprising a stationary vertical guide rail.

The elevator cars are only shifted upwards along one vertical track and only downwards along the other vertical track. In order to be able to realize revolving operation of the elevator cars, the elevator cars can be shifted horizontally between the two vertical carriageways by means of car transfer devices. In the operation of the elevator system according to EP 2219985 B1, a couple is coupled

Elevator car at a lower or an upper end position over their

Coupling device and a coupling element to a suspension element and is displaced upwards or downwards via the suspension element by the associated drive machine until it has reached the upper or lower end position. There the elevator car is decoupled from the suspension element and is shifted horizontally into the other vertical track by a car transfer device, in order to then be shifted there in the other shifting direction. A car transfer device according to EP 2219985 B1 has a

Horizontal displacement unit with vertical guide rail pieces on which the elevator cars can be temporarily fixed during horizontal travel by means of a braking device. In a so-called transit position the

Horizontal displacement unit, an elevator car can be moved into the car transfer device and out of the car transfer device. Vertical guide rail pieces that belong together and fixed

Vertical guide rails must be aligned with one another in such a way that there is no offset and the elevator car can be relocated safely and comfortably from a vertical guide rail piece to a stationary vertical guide rail or vice versa. The car transfer device has a

Centering device, by means of which a frame structure of the

Horizontal displacement unit compared to a horizontal guide in the

Passage position can be fixed.

US 2011/132693 A1 describes a similarly constructed elevator system with a car transfer device.

In contrast, it is the object of the invention in particular to propose an elevator system which enables a particularly safe and convenient shaft change of an elevator car. According to the invention, this task is achieved with a

Elevator system with the features of claim 1 solved.

The elevator system according to the invention has at least one elevator car, which can be moved in vertical travel along a vertical track comprising a stationary vertical guide rail and in horizontal travel by means of a car transfer device. The cabin transfer device has a

Horizontal displacement unit with a vertical guide rail piece that guides the elevator car in the horizontal displacement unit. The horizontal displacement unit can be brought into a transit position, in which the guide rail piece of the horizontal displacement unit forms a section of the vertical track with the stationary vertical guide rail. According to the invention, the drive system has a connecting device by means of which the vertical displacement unit in the transit position of the horizontal displacement unit

Guide rail piece of the horizontal displacement unit with the stationary

Vertical guide rail can be connected. When the vertical guide rail section is connected to the stationary vertical guide rail by means of the connecting device, the vertical guide rail section cannot be displaced in the horizontal direction with respect to the stationary vertical guide rail.

The elevator car is when moving or moving in or along the

Vertical track guided along the vertical guide rails. The guide rails in particular have a known T-shaped cross section, the so-called arms from one rail foot and the so-called trunk from one

Rail head are formed. The rail head is aligned in the direction of the elevator car and has at least one walking surface. The elevator car has, in particular, a runner which is attached to the foot face of a guide rail

slides along or rolls off. The runner can be designed, for example, in the form of a guide shoe or guide rollers. A guide rail is usually composed of individual guide rail pieces, so that especially at the transitions from one guide rail piece to the next guide rail piece, there is a risk that the guide rail pieces, in particular their footing surfaces, are slightly offset from one another, i.e. what is known as an offset.

If the carriage of the elevator car slides or rolls over such an offset, a noticeable jolt can occur, the carriage can be damaged or, in the worst case, the carriage can jump out of the guide. This danger is particularly great with

Transition of a horizontally displaceable, vertical guide rail piece of a horizontal displacement unit of a car transfer device to a stationary one

Vertical guide rail. The connection between the vertical guide rail section of the horizontal displacement unit and the stationary vertical guide rail in the transit position of the horizontal displacement unit ensures optimum alignment of the vertical guide rail section with the stationary vertical guide rail, so that a transition between the two can be ensured without a shoulder or offset. The vertical

The guide rail piece and the stationary vertical guide rail are thus optimally aligned with one another, so that the elevator car is not impaired or damage can slide or roll over the transition. This enables particularly safe and convenient operation of the elevator system.

The elevator system has in particular at least two vertical carriageways arranged next to one another and at least two car transfer devices, which are arranged in particular at the upper and lower end of the vertical carriageways.

In this way, as described above, the elevator cars can be operated continuously.

The vertical carriageways and the car transfer devices are in particular arranged in one or more adjacent elevator shafts, the vertical journeys mainly being vertical, i.e. with and against the direction of gravity, and the horizontal journeys being mainly horizontal, i.e. perpendicular to the direction of gravity. A stationary vertical guide rail is to be understood here as an immovable, mainly vertically oriented guide rail. The vertical guide rail is in particular fixed, for example screwed, to a shaft wall of the elevator shaft. A vertical track has in particular two opposite vertical guide rails, between which an elevator car can be arranged.

The vertical track is in particular equipped with a car drive system which comprises a flexible support means that can be moved and stopped along the vertical track. The elevator car then has a controllable coupling device with which the elevator car can be coupled to and uncoupled from the suspension element.

The car drive system has at least one controllable drive machine, in particular an electric motor, which can move the flexible suspension element and thus move it in the elevator shaft. The drive machine is controlled in particular by an elevator control. The elevator control controls the entire operation of the elevator system, so it controls all controllable components of the elevator system and is connected to switches and sensors of the elevator system. The elevator control can be designed as a single central elevator control or consist of several decentralized controls that are responsible for sub-tasks. You can, for example, have a safety controller that ensures the safe operation of the Elevator system.

The suspension element is in particular self-contained, that is to say, for example, embodied in an annular manner. It can also be called endless. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is designed as a homogeneous ring or only consists of one piece. The suspension element is in particular guided around a lower and an upper deflection roller, at least one deflection roller serving as a drive roller or drive pulley, via which the suspension element can be driven by the drive machine assigned to it. In particular, the deflection rollers have an effective diameter of less than 100 mm. Such small effective diameter of a serving as a traction sheave

Deflection pulleys enable a gearless drive of the suspension element, which requires little installation space. In particular, a tensioning device can be arranged on the suspension element, with which, on the one hand, the necessary suspension element pretensioning and, on the other hand, deviations in the original length of the self-contained suspension element and operational plastic changes in length of the suspension element are compensated. The necessary clamping forces can be generated with tension weights, gas springs or metal springs, for example.

The coupling devices arranged on the elevator car or cars are arranged in particular on a floor or a roof of the elevator cars and are controlled by the elevator control mentioned above. The coupling to a coupling element of the suspension element takes place in particular in a form-fitting manner, a frictional coupling being also conceivable. The coupling element has, in particular, a mainly horizontally oriented recess into which, for example, an extendable and retractable bolt of the coupling device can dip in an actuating direction. The coupling device is in this case in its coupled position when the bolt of the coupling device in the recess of the

Coupling element immersed and in its uncoupled position when the bolt does not enter the recess or the recess remains free.

A positive or frictional connection between the elevator car and the suspension element can thus be established via the coupling device and the coupling element, so that the elevator cage is also displaced when the propellant is displaced or moved. This is a drive connection between the The elevator car and the suspension element and thus ultimately between the elevator car and the drive machine assigned to the suspension element can be produced and also released again. The coupling devices are controlled in particular in such a way that only one elevator car is coupled to a (single) suspension element at least during the displacement of an elevator car. In particular, only one (single) elevator car is thus always displaced along the vertical track by a (single) suspension element.

A coupling element of a suspension element is designed in particular as a connecting element which connects two free ends of the suspension element to one another. The use of a self-contained suspension element makes it possible to dispense with a counterweight which has to be guided past the elevator car, which enables the elevator shaft to have a small cross section. In addition, the coupling element designed in this way fulfills a double function. It serves, on the one hand, to couple the elevator car to the suspension element and, on the other hand, to make the closed suspension element simple and inexpensive.

The coupling element particularly fulfills the function of a so-called

Belt lock or a rope connector. A self-contained suspension element can thus be produced very simply, inexpensively and safely from an originally open, elongated suspension element by connecting the two free ends to the coupling element. The coupling element can, for example, have two suspension element end connections connected to one another, which can be designed, for example, in accordance with EP 1634842 A2. The two support means end connections can for example be connected via an intermediate piece with which they can be screwed or welded, for example. The coupling element can also have a one-piece housing.

Instead of a car drive system with a drive machine and a suspension element, the elevator system can also have a car drive system without a suspension element. The cabin drive system can be designed, for example, as a drive system with a linear drive or as a friction wheel drive. Such

Cabin drive systems are well known. The following is a

Elevator system with a car drive system with a drive machine and a suspension element assumed. A horizontal displacement unit of a car transfer device has, in particular analogous to the stationary vertical guide rails, two opposite vertical guide rail pieces. The guide rail piece or pieces are shifted horizontally when the elevator car travels horizontally. During the horizontal travel, the elevator car is temporarily fixed on the guide rail piece or pieces. For this purpose, the elevator car has, in particular, a braking device by means of which it can be clamped to a guide rail piece. It is also possible for the horizontal displacement unit to have a fixing device by means of which the elevator car can be held during horizontal travel and thus at least indirectly fixed on a guide rail piece. The elevator car is thus guided during horizontal travel.

The horizontal displacement unit has a displacement drive with a

Drive unit, in particular in the form of an electric motor, by means of which the vertical guide rail piece or pieces, including the elevator car, can be moved horizontally. The drive unit is also from the above

Elevator control activated.

The horizontal displacement unit and thus the guide rail piece or pieces can be brought into a so-called transit position. In the drive-through position, the vertical guide rail piece or pieces of the horizontal displacement unit and corresponding vertical guide rails are arranged or aligned with one another in such a way that a guide rail piece of the horizontal displacement unit and the stationary vertical guide rail form a section of the vertical track. In the aforementioned transit position, an elevator car can thus move into or out of a horizontal displacement unit.

When changing an elevator car from a first vertical track to a second vertical track, the horizontal displacement unit is initially in a first passage position in which its vertical guide rail pieces with the stationary vertical guide rails of the first vertical track are a section of the first

Form vertical carriageway. The guide rail pieces are so to the

corresponding stationary vertical guide rails aligned that the Elevator car can move into the horizontal displacement unit. After this

When moving in, the elevator car is fixed to the vertical guide rail pieces, in particular with a braking device. Then the

Move the horizontal displacement unit and thus also the elevator car horizontally until a second passage position is reached. In the second passage position, the vertical guide rail pieces of the horizontal displacement unit with the stationary vertical guide rails of the second vertical track form a section of the second vertical track. So that the elevator car after releasing the

Move the braking device out of the horizontal displacement unit. So that the elevator car is of the vertical guide rail piece or pieces also when

Moving into the horizontal displacement unit and guided out of the horizontal displacement unit when moving out.

When moving in and out as described, this or the vertical

Guide rail pieces of the horizontal displacement unit by means of a

Connecting device connected to corresponding stationary vertical guide rails. The connection is designed in such a way that a guide rail piece with a corresponding vertical guide rail is aligned with one another in such a way that, if possible, there is no shoulder or offset. With an existing connection, the vertical guide rail piece cannot be moved or displaced in the horizontal direction with respect to the stationary vertical guide rail. The vertical

In this case, the guide rail piece is in relation to the stationary one

Vertical guide rail arranged immovably or stationary or immovable in the horizontal direction.

The connecting device is arranged in particular in an area between the vertical guide rails and a shaft wall to which the stationary vertical guide rail is attached. In the case of guide rails with a T-shaped cross section, the connecting device is thus arranged in particular on the rail foot of the guide rails.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting device is designed and arranged such that the vertical guide rail piece of the horizontal displacement unit can be connected to the stationary vertical guide rail in a form-fitting manner. In order to a particularly secure connection is made possible. In addition, the guide rails can be aligned very precisely with one another.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting device has a controllable actuator which is arranged on the vertical guide rail piece of the horizontal displacement unit. The actuator is therefore together with the vertical

Guide rail piece moved. This means that only one actuator per vertical guide rail piece is necessary for all vertical tracks. If the actuator were arranged on the stationary vertical guide rail of a vertical track, several actuators would be necessary for each vertical guide rail piece, namely per

Vertical track an actuator.

The actuator is designed in particular as an electric motor. However, it can also be designed as a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, for example. In particular, the actuator is also controlled by the elevator control mentioned above.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting device has a bolt which can assume a retracted position and an extended position. The connecting device also has one with the bolt

Corresponding recess, which are designed and arranged in such a way that in the transit position of the horizontal displacement unit, the bolt in the extended position dips into the said recess and thus the vertical one

Guide rail piece of the horizontal displacement unit is positively connected to the stationary vertical guide rail and the bolt in the retracted position is spaced from the said recess and thus the vertical

Guide rail piece of the horizontal displacement unit relative to the stationary vertical guide rail is horizontally displaceable. A form-fitting connection between a vertical guide rail piece and a corresponding vertical guide rail can thus be established in a simple and inexpensive manner.

The bolt is arranged in particular on the vertical guide rail piece and is actuated in a by an actuator arranged on the vertical guide rail piece

Actuation direction actuated, so retracted and extended. Here the mentioned runs Operating direction mainly vertical. Under one "with the bolt

"Corresponding recess" is to be understood here as a recess which has a shape adapted to the bolt such that when the bolt is immersed in the recess, only a minimal relative movement transverse to the actuation direction of the bolt, ie horizontally, is possible.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bolt has an insertion bevel in the direction of the recess. The bolt can thus be reliably inserted into the recess. In particular, even if the horizontal displacement unit has not moved exactly into the drive-through position, that is to say the vertical guide rail piece is not yet positioned exactly opposite the stationary vertical guide rail. In this case, too, the insertion bevel allows the bolt to be inserted into the recess and the horizontal displacement unit to be moved accordingly. For example, inaccuracies in the positioning of the

Horizontal displacement unit in the range of a few millimeters, for example 2-3 mm, can be compensated.

An insertion bevel should be understood here to mean a narrowing of a cross section of the bolt in the direction of the recess. In the case of a cylindrical bolt, the diameter of the bolt decreases in the insertion bevel, so that a conical shape is created.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connecting device has a guide which guides the bolt when it moves from the retracted position into the extended position and vice versa. The guide ensures, on the one hand, that the bolt can be safely inserted into the recess and, on the other hand, that the bolt executes an intended movement very precisely.

The guide ensures in particular that the bolt is not perpendicular to the

Operating direction, so can evade in the horizontal direction. A particularly precise alignment of the vertical guide rail piece with respect to the stationary vertical guide rail is thus achieved. The guide is arranged in particular on the vertical guide rail piece. It is designed, for example, as a sheet metal with a recess through which the bolt protrudes. In an embodiment of the invention, the elevator system has a sensor device, by means of which it can be detected whether the vertical guide rail piece is

Horizontal displacement unit is connected to the stationary vertical guide rail. The information detected by the sensor device can advantageously be used for particularly safe operation of the elevator system.

The sensor device has in particular one at the recess of the

Connecting device arranged switch, which from the bolt of the

Connecting device is actuated in the extended position and is not actuated in the retracted position of the bolt. This means that it is very easy and inexpensive, and at the same time, to reliably identify whether the vertical

Guide rail piece of the horizontal displacement unit with the stationary

Vertical guide rail is connected.

In an embodiment of the invention, the elevator system has a safety control which is connected to the named sensor device and is provided to only allow a vertical movement of the elevator car into the horizontal shifting unit and out of the horizontal shifting unit if the aforementioned

Sensor device is detected that the vertical guide rail piece of the

Horizontal displacement unit is connected to the stationary vertical guide rail. This ensures that the elevator car only enters the

Horizontal displacement unit is moved in or out of it when the vertical guide rail piece and the stationary vertical guide rail are connected to one another and are thus correctly aligned with one another. This ensures particularly safe operation of the elevator system.

The safety control can be designed as part of the mentioned elevator control or as a separate control device. It can be integrated into what is known as a safety circuit of the elevator system that is known per se.

In an embodiment of the invention, the car transfer device has a

Sliding drive with a drive unit and a sliding belt. The horizontal displacement unit is horizontal by means of the displacement drive movable. A drive connection between the drive unit of the displacement drive and the horizontal displacement unit is implemented as a toothed belt

Sliding strap made. The design of the sliding belt as a toothed belt ensures a form-fitting and therefore slip-free drive connection between the drive unit and the horizontal sliding unit. Thus, from the movements, for example rotations of a drive axis of the drive unit, conclusions can be drawn reliably about the horizontal position of the horizontal displacement unit. The horizontal position of the horizontal displacement unit can thus be adjusted by means of a control. This enables a cost-effective design of the displacement drive.

Teeth of the toothed belt consist in particular of an elastomer, the force in the toothed belt being transmitted by a stiff tension cord, which consists for example of glass or aramid fibers. The displacement drive can also have two or more displacement belts connected one behind the other, in which case, in particular, all displacement belts are designed as toothed belts.

In an embodiment of the invention, the car transfer device has a

Position detection device, by means of which a horizontal position of the horizontal displacement unit can be detected within the car transfer device.

This is the horizontal position of the horizontal displacement unit and thus also the horizontal position of the vertical guide rail piece or pieces

Horizontal displacement unit can be adjusted particularly precisely. The named position can thus be adjusted in particular by means of a control.

The position detection device can have one or more position sensors. It can also be designed as a so-called continuous position measuring device, for example in the form of a pull cable sensor. The

The position detection device can for example also be designed as a so-called absolute position detection device which determines the horizontal position of the horizontal displacement unit from the detected markings on the car transfer device. The markings mentioned can be arranged, for example, on what is known as a longitudinal member of the car transfer device and recorded by means of a camera. Such absolute position detection devices are in

different designs available on the market. Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings, in which identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference symbols. The drawings are only schematic and not true to scale.

Show:

1A shows a front view of an elevator system with two vertical lanes, two elevator cars and two car transfer devices,

1B shows a side view of the elevator system according to FIG. 1A,

2A shows a horizontal displacement unit of the aforesaid

Cabin transfer devices in a side view,

FIG. 2B shows a front view of the horizontal displacement unit according to FIG. 2A, FIG. 3A shows a connecting device for connecting a vertical one

Guide rail piece with a stationary vertical guide rail in an unconnected state and

3B shows the connecting device from FIG. 3A in a connected state.

1A and 1B, an elevator system has two vertical carriageways 3 arranged in an elevator shaft 2 and two elevator cars 4 traveling along these vertical carriageways 3. The vertical carriageways 3 are each formed by two strands of vertical guide rails 5 fastened in the elevator shaft, and

Elevator cars 4 are guided on these vertical guide rails 5 by means of guide shoes 6, two guide shoes 6 being present on each side of the elevator cars 4. Each vertical track 3 is equipped with three car drive systems 7 with circumferential support means 8. Each of the elevator cars 4 can be coupled to the suspension means 8 of a car drive system 7 in order to convey the elevator car 4 along a vertical track 3, and can also be decoupled from these suspension means 8 in order to move the elevator car 4 from one vertical track 3 to another. For this purpose, each elevator car 4 is provided with three controllable coupling devices

40 equipped, each of which is assigned to one of the three car drive systems 7. As a variant, each elevator car can also have only a single coupling device, which can be immobile or in each case prior to coupling by a controlled positioning device in one with the currently assigned one Cabin drive system is brought to the corresponding position.

The vertical carriageways 3 are offset from one another parallel to car walls 11 having car doors 10. They arranged. The vertical carriageways can also be arranged offset from one another at right angles to the car walls having the car doors.

In normal operation, one of the vertical carriageways 3 serves as the carriageway for the upward journey and the other as the carriageway for the downward journey of the elevator cars 4, with each of the elevator cars 4 executing a horizontal transfer to the other vertical carriageway 3 after reaching a floor level in the end area of a vertical carriageway 3, on which the elevator car 4 can move on in the opposite direction of travel.

Each in areas of floor stops 12 are three

Car transfer devices 13 are shown, with the aid of which the elevator cars 4 can be displaced between the vertical carriageways 3. Each of the

Car transfer devices 13 comprises two on a door-side wall of the

Elevator shaft 2 fixed horizontal guides 14, 15 and one along this

Horizontal guides 14, 15 displaceable horizontal displacement unit 16. Such a horizontal displacement unit 16 comprises a frame structure 17 in which two vertical guide rail pieces 18 are fixed, which end sections or

Form intermediate sections of the vertical guide rails 5 of the vertical tracks 3 when the horizontal displacement unit 16 is positioned in a corresponding transit position. The frame construction 17 is designed in such a way that the elevator cars 4 are in the vertical direction through the standing in the correct passage position

Horizontal displacement unit 16 can pass through or stop in it, the elevator cars being guided on said guide rail pieces 18.

The car transfer devices 13 are each equipped with a shift drive (24 in Fig. 2B), not shown here, which, controlled by an elevator control 36, shifts the horizontal shifting units 16 between the vertical tracks 3 and positions them in defined passage positions in which the integrated vertical guide rail pieces 18 with the vertical guide rails 5 of the

Vertical lanes 3 are precisely aligned. The horizontal displacement units 16 can be empty or loaded with an elevator car 4 during the shifting process. The displacement drive includes a toothed belt (33 in FIG. 2B) via which a drive unit (32 in FIG. 2B) in the form of a speed-adjustable electric motor moves the horizontal displacement units 16 and positions them in a currently required passage position.

On both sides of the elevator cars 4 controllable braking devices 20 are attached, which are so with the vertical guide rails 5 and the vertical

Guide rail pieces 18 of the horizontal displacement units 16 cooperate so that the braking devices 20 brake or hold the elevator cars 4 when they are activated, for example, by the elevator control 36. With these

Braking devices 20 are the elevator cars 4 at the in the

Horizontal displacement units 16 integrated guide rail pieces 18 held while they are moved between two vertical tracks 3. The same braking devices 20 can also be used as safety devices, which in the event that the permissible car speed or the

Acceleration act as safety brakes acting between elevator cars 4 and vertical guide rails 5. The same braking devices 20 can also serve as holding brakes that stop during floors

Prevent vertical vibrations and changes in level of the elevator cars 4 as a result of load changes. The braking devices 20 usually contain brake plates which are pressed against the vertical guide rails 5 by controllable actuators. Various principles can be used to implement such actuators, for example lifting spindles with adjustable torque

Drive motors, hydraulic cylinders with pressure regulation, or electromagnets that attach to the guide rails when activated. The braking force generated is preferably regulated as a function of the deceleration of the elevator car 4 measured by a deceleration sensor.

It is easy to see that in the embodiment of the elevator system shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, in which the vertical tracks parallel to the car walls 11 having the car doors 10 are offset from one another, several vertical tracks 3 can also be arranged next to one another. In this embodiment, boarding and disembarking takes place at floor stops 12 which are on each floor can be and each of the vertical carriageways 3 can be assigned. The horizontal guides 14, 15 of the car transfer devices 13 advantageously extend over the entire width of all vertical carriageways, so that each elevator car can use each of the vertical carriageways 3. At

In elevator systems with a relatively large number of parallel vertical tracks, it can make sense to have more than one horizontal displacement unit 16 work on the same horizontal guides 14, 15 of a car transfer device 13 or to arrange two or more car transfer devices directly one above the other. Car transfer devices can also be present at any intermediate level of the elevator system, this intermediate level not necessarily having to be in the area of a floor stop. In combination with a correspondingly designed elevator control, in such an elevator system, elevator cars can have their vertical track and, if necessary, their direction of travel over them

Car transfer devices arranged between levels change without having to make a circuit over the end areas of the vertical carriageways, or empty elevator cars can be called from parallel vertical carriageways without having to accept long detours and waiting times.

Since the vertical guide rails 5 of the vertical carriageways 3 are interrupted in the areas of the car transfer devices 13, the elevator control 36 ensures that an elevator car enters such an area before each entry

Horizontal displacement unit 16 with its guide rail pieces 18 the

Bridges interruptions. Does not represent a bridging requirement

If the horizontal displacement unit is available in good time, the elevator car 4 is stopped before the interrupted area is reached.

2A and 2B show a side view and a front view of a car transfer device 13 described above with its horizontal displacement unit 16 in an enlarged illustration. To illustrate the interaction of the

Horizontal displacement unit with the elevator cars 4, such an elevator car is indicated by phantom lines in a holding position in the horizontal displacement unit 16. With 14 an upper and with 15 a lower horizontal guide is designated, on which the horizontal displacement unit 16 is displaceable by a displacement drive 24 between the vertical tracks of the elevator system. The horizontal guides 14, 15 are attached to the door-side wall 25 of the elevator shaft. The

Horizontal displacement unit 16 comprises a frame structure 17 with two vertically arranged side frames 26 and an upper longitudinal beam 27 and a lower longitudinal beam 28, which connect the two side frames 26 to one another via an upper cross member 37 and a lower cross member 38, respectively. Four profiled upper guide rollers 29 are fixed on the upper longitudinal member 27, with which the upper longitudinal member 27 is guided in the vertical and horizontal directions on the upper horizontal guide 14. The lower longitudinal member 28 has four lower guide rollers 30, the lower

Guide the longitudinal member 28 in the horizontal direction on the lower horizontal guide 15. The vertically aligned guide rail pieces 18, already mentioned above, are fixed to the inner sides of the two side frames 26. The two side frames 26, together with the upper and lower longitudinal members 27, 28, form a U-shaped frame which enables elevator cars 4 to pass vertically between the two side frames 26, with the two guide rail pieces 18 being end sections or intermediate sections of the vertical guide rails 5 of the vertical tracks 3 of the elevator system when the horizontal displacement unit 16 is positioned in a correct passage position. As stated above, the elevator cars 4 are equipped with controllable braking devices 20 with which the elevator cars 4 can be held on the guide rail pieces 18 mentioned during a horizontal transfer between two vertical tracks 3.

The displacement drive 24 is arranged above the horizontal displacement unit 16 and comprises a belt drive fastened to the upper horizontal guide 14 and extending over the entire displacement distance with a drive unit 32, a rotating displacement belt in the form of a toothed belt 33 and a belt drive

Deflection belt pulley 34, the lower run of the toothed belt being connected to the upper longitudinal member 27 of the horizontal displacement unit 16.

The drive units 32 of the horizontal displacement units 16 are preferably controlled by the elevator control 36 (see FIG. 1A), which controls the entire

Controls and monitors elevator traffic.

The car transfer device 13 has a position detection device 35, by means of which the horizontal position of the horizontal displacement unit 16 within the Cabin transfer device 13 can be detected. The position detection device 35 is arranged on the upper longitudinal member 27 of the horizontal displacement unit 16 and detects markings (not shown) on the upper horizontal guide 14. The position detection device 35 can deduce the horizontal position of the horizontal displacement unit 16 from the detected markings. The horizontal position can thus be set very precisely, in particular by means of a control.

To move and position the elevator cars 4 along their vertical tracks 3, each vertical track 3 can be controlled independently of one another

Cabin drive systems 7 assigned. These car drive systems 7 enable an asynchronous, i. H. uncoupled movement of several elevator cars 4 on the same vertical track 3. For this purpose, the elevator cars 4 are connected to flexible suspension means with the aid of controllable coupling devices 40

Car drive system can be coupled, which the elevator cars 4 by the

Elevator control 36 are temporarily assigned. The elevator system can also be equipped with more or with fewer than three independent car drive systems.

Each of the car drive systems 7 shown comprises at least one flexible support means 8 which can be moved along the assigned vertical tracks 3 and which preferably has a traction sheave 41 in the upper elevator area and one in the lower area

Deflection pulley 42 or a second traction sheave wraps around. Each traction sheave 41 is driven by a drive unit 43, which preferably comprises a speed-adjustable electric motor. The drive units 43 or their electric motors assigned to one of the car drive systems 7 can be controlled and regulated independently of the other drive units 43 belonging to the same vertical track 3. The traction sheaves 41 have a small effective diameter of less than 100 mm, preferably an effective diameter of less than 80 mm. The motor shafts of the electric motors and the associated traction sheaves can form a single unit. The permissible load of a car drive system can be increased by adding an upper and a lower one to each car drive system

Drive unit can be assigned with one drive pulley each. Such

Embodiment is shown in Figs. 1A, 1B. The electric motors such

Drive units are controlled synchronously and speed controlled synchronously. The traction sheaves or deflection sheaves in the lower elevator area are here equipped with tensioning devices symbolically represented by arrows P, with which on the one hand the necessary suspension element pretensioning and on the other hand deviations in the original lengths of the self-contained suspension elements as well as operational plastic changes in length in the suspension elements are compensated. The required clamping forces can preferably be generated with tension weights, gas springs or metal springs.

The suspension means 8 shown in the elevator systems according to FIGS. 1A, 1B are in the form of belts. These are preferably as toothed belts or as

V-ribbed belt executed and reinforced with tensile reinforcements in the form of wire ropes, synthetic fiber ropes or synthetic fiber fabrics, so that they can convey an assigned elevator car 4 over a large number of floors without impermissible vertical vibrations occurring.

As already mentioned above, each elevator car 4 is the one shown

Elevator system equipped with controllable coupling devices 40, which enable the coupling of an elevator car 4 to a temporarily assigned

Cabin drive system 7 and, of course, also enable decoupling from this. Such a coupling device 40 has at least one controllably movable coupling element which is provided with openings or cams on the at least one support means of the assigned car drive system

positively cooperates to create a temporary connection between a

To produce the elevator car and the suspension element.

As shown enlarged in FIGS. 3A, 3B, the elevator system has a

Connecting device 70, by means of which in the transit position the

Horizontal displacement unit 16, the vertical guide rail piece 18 of

Horizontal displacement unit 16 can be connected to the stationary vertical guide rail 5. The connector 70 is between the vertical

Guide rail piece 18 or the stationary vertical guide rail 5 and a shaft wall 71 are arranged. For this purpose, it is attached to the rail feet of the two guide rails via fastening means (not shown). On the shaft wall 71 is the stationary vertical guide rail 5 is fixed by means of a posture, not shown.

The connecting device 70 has a controllable actuator 72 in the form of an electric motor, which is arranged on an end 73 of the vertical guide rail piece 18 oriented in the direction of the stationary vertical rail 5. The actuator 72 is controlled by the elevator control 36 (see FIG. 1A) and can use a mainly cylindrical bolt 74 in a vertical direction

Actuating direction 76 extend into an extended position and into a

Move into the retracted position. In Fig. 3A, the bolt 74 is in the

retracted position and shown in Fig. 3B in the extended position.

A receptacle 77 is arranged on an end 75 of the stationary vertical guide rail 5 oriented in the direction of the vertical guide rail piece 18. The receptacle 77 has a recess 78 in the form of a cylindrical through opening oriented in the actuating direction 76 and thus vertically. An inner diameter of the recess 78 is a little larger than an outer diameter of the bolt 74, so that the recess 78 can accommodate the bolt 74 with little play. The receptacle 77 and thus the recess 78 are arranged on the stationary vertical guide rail 5 in such a way that, in the transit position of the horizontal displacement unit 16, the bolt 74 is inserted into the recess 78 when changing from the retracted position to the extended position and thus as in FIG. 3B shown in the

extended position into said recess 78 and a

positive connection between vertical guide rail piece 18 and stationary vertical guide rail 5 produces. When the bolt 74 dips into the recess 78, the horizontal position of the vertical guide rail piece 18 relative to the stationary vertical guide rail 5 is fixed. The

Connecting device 70 is arranged in such a way that in this case the vertical guide rail piece 18 is aligned so flush with respect to the stationary vertical guide rail 5 that there is no offset or shoulder at the transition.

In the retracted position of the bolt 74 shown in FIG. 3A, it does not dip into the recess 78, so it has at least a small distance in

Operating direction 76 on. In the retracted position of the bolt 74, the vertical guide rail piece 18 relative to the stationary Vertical guide rail 5 can be moved in the horizontal direction.

The recess 77 is located on the side of the receptacle 77 opposite the actuator 72

78 a sensor device 79 with a safety switch 80 is arranged. Of the

Safety switch 80 is actuated by bolt 74 when the latter assumes the extended position in recess 78. The sensor device 79 thus detects whether the vertical guide rail piece 18 is form-fitting with the stationary one

Vertical guide rail 5 is connected and thus an elevator car 4 can be safely and comfortably moved out of or into the horizontal displacement unit 16. The sensor device 79 is connected to a safety controller 81 by lines not shown. The safety controller 81 can be in the

Elevator control 36 can be integrated or designed as a separate control device and connected to the elevator control. The safety control 81 is designed in such a way that it only allows a vertical movement of an elevator car 4 into the horizontal displacement unit 16 and out of the horizontal displacement unit 16 when using the sensor device

79 it is detected that the vertical guide rail piece 18 is connected to the stationary vertical guide rail 5 as described.

In order to enable the bolt 74 to be safely inserted into the recess 78, the bolt 74 has an insertion bevel 82 in the direction of the recess 78, in which the outer diameter of the bolt 74 tapers slightly. In the area of the insertion bevel 82, the bolt 74 thus has a conical shape.

In addition, a guide 83 is arranged on the actuator 72, which guides the bolt 74 during a movement from the retracted position into the extended position and vice versa. For this purpose, the guide 83 has a recess (not visible in FIGS. 3A, 3B) through which the bolt 74 protrudes. An inner contour of the said recess corresponds to an outer contour of the bolt 74, as a result of which it cannot move, or only very little, transversely to the actuating direction 76.

Finally, it should be pointed out that terms such as “having”, “comprising”, etc. do not exclude any other elements or steps and that terms such as “a” or “an” do not exclude a multitude. It should also be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as a restriction.

Claims

1. Elevator system with an elevator car (4) which can be moved in vertical travel along a vertical track (3) comprising a stationary vertical guide rail (5) and in horizontal travel by means of a car transfer device (13), wherein

- The car transfer device (13) has a horizontal displacement unit (16) with a vertical guide rail piece (18) which guides the elevator car (4) in the horizontal displacement unit (16), the

Horizontal displacement unit (16) can be brought into a transit position in which the guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16) with the stationary vertical guide rail (5) forms a section of the

Vertical track (3) forms,

marked by

a connecting device (70) by means of which in the transit position of the horizontal displacement unit (16) the vertical guide rail piece (18) of the

Horizontal displacement unit (16) can be connected to the stationary vertical guide rail (5), with the existing connection of the vertical

Guide rail piece (18) with the stationary vertical guide rail (5) by means of the connecting device (70) the vertical guide rail piece (18) cannot be displaced in the horizontal direction relative to the stationary vertical guide rail (5).

2. Elevator system according to claim 1,

characterized in that

- The vertical track (3) is equipped with a car drive system (7) which comprises a flexible support means (8) which can be moved and stopped along the vertical track (3) and

- The elevator car (4) has a controllable coupling device (40) with which the elevator car can be coupled to and uncoupled from the support means (8).

3. Elevator system according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the connecting device (70) is designed and arranged in such a way that the vertical guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16) can be positively connected to the stationary vertical guide rail (5).

4. Elevator system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,

characterized in that

the connecting device (70) has a controllable actuator (72) which is arranged on the vertical guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16).

5. Elevator system according to claim 3 or 4,

characterized in that

the connecting device (70) has a bolt (74), which can assume a retracted position and an extended position, and a recess (78) corresponding to the bolt (74), which is designed and arranged so that in the transit position of the horizontal displacement unit (16) the bolt (74) in the extended position dips into said recess (78) and thus the vertical guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16) is positively connected to the stationary vertical guide rail (5) and the bolt (74) in the retracted position is spaced from the said recess (78) and thus the vertical guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16) is horizontally displaceable relative to the stationary vertical guide rail (5).

6. Elevator system according to claim 5,

characterized in that

the bolt (74) has an insertion bevel (82) in the direction of the recess (78).

7. Elevator system according to claim 5 or 6,

characterized in that

the connecting device (70) has a guide (83) which guides the bolt (74) during a movement from the retracted position to the extended position and vice versa.

8. Elevator system according to one of claims 1 to 7,

marked by

a sensor device (79), by means of which it is possible to detect whether the vertical

Guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16) is connected to the stationary vertical guide rail (5).

9. Elevator system according to claim 5, 6 or 7 and 8,

characterized in that

the sensor device (79) has a switch (80) which is arranged on the recess (78) of the connecting device (70) and which is controlled by the bolt (74) of the

Connecting device (70) is actuated in the extended position and in the retracted position of the bolt (74) is not actuated.

10. Elevator system according to claim 8 or 9,

marked by

a safety control (81), which is connected to the sensor device (79) and is provided to enable a vertical movement of the elevator car (4) into the

Allowing the horizontal displacement unit (16) and out of the horizontal displacement unit (16) only if the aforementioned sensor device (79) detects that the vertical guide rail piece (18) of the horizontal displacement unit (16) is connected to the stationary vertical guide rail (5).

11. Elevator system according to one of claims 1 to 10,

characterized in that

the car transfer device (13) has a displacement drive (24) with a

Has drive unit (32) and a sliding belt (33), wherein

- the horizontal displacement unit (16) by means of the displacement drive (24)

can be moved horizontally,

- A drive connection between the drive unit (32) of the displacement drive (24) and the horizontal displacement unit (16) is established by means of the displacement belt (33) and

- The sliding belt (33) is designed as a toothed belt.

12. Elevator system according to claim 11,

characterized in that

the car transfer device (13) has a position detection device (35) by means of which a horizontal position of the horizontal displacement unit (16) within the car transfer device (13) can be detected.